Marijuana May Help Multiple Sclerosis Patients?

green1706

Don't know if this is the right place to post this, but I have a friend with MS and need to know...
Researchers note that doses of cannabis (marijuana) have been shown to reduce the muscle spasms experienced by many people who have multiple sclerosis. The use of medical marijuana continues to be a struggle in the United States. Although it has been shown to be very effective in treating various diseases and illnesses, including chronic pain, nausea, glaucoma, seizure disorders, PTSD, cancer, diabetes, and others, many people risk arrest when they use marijuana for medicinal purposes. In October 2009, President Obama stated that his administration will not seek to arrest medical marijuana users and suppliers if they conform to state laws.
Although research indicates that cannabinoids offer benefits for multiple sclerosis patients because they can reduce inflammation and they have quelled spasms in animal studies, some officials, including regulators and researchers, have been concerned about the intoxicating side effects of THC. The authors of the recent paper, however, note that the combination of THC and CBD can limit psychotropic effects. They also note that the multiple sclerosis patients in the studies they evaluated generally well tolerated the side effects of the combined marijuana extracts.
Does anyone know more details?
PS: An amazing invention I have seen is the so called berkelbike, a revolutionary, award winning tricycle which can be propelled by both your arms and legs. The BerkelBike makes cycling possible despite MS, Polio, Spinal Cord Injury or Stroke.

berkeman

So you like my bike, eh?

Just kidding. Can you please provide some links to the studies that you are alluding to? That would help folks make more informed comments without having to go off and dig them up ourselves.

Are you currently in Romania (in your profile), or in the States? I think at least locally here in California, prescriptions are being filled for some of the illnesses you mention. Not sure about MS.

turbo

Maine now has a medical marijuana law, and MS is one of the conditions for which it can be prescribed. Dispensaries have not yet been licensed, and there is currently a spate of NIMBY actions going on on the town/city level. Also, it is not clear what might happen to a medical marijuana user if he or she is found to be in possession of pot while located within 1000 ft of a school - a condition that elevates the crime of possession and can trigger some fairly draconian penalties.

berkeman

Interesting how support is growing in the US for medical MJ use:

http://abcnews.go.com/PollingUnit/Po...ory?id=9586503

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berkeman

BTW, that bike/trike is pretty cool. Hope it catches on.

http://www.berkelbike.com/

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algis.j

If you are already a smoker (legal fags) - Just try... You'll see...
If not; I am not sure it worth starting to smoke to get a 'possible' relief. Like shooting a foot to forget you've got an headache?

FWIW: I am MS sufferer and I tried MJ: it did not change anything to me. But everyone's different; and so is their MS.